The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1887-11-23
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Capturing CAisoIiSh
"ctahc's B'ayado and the ResuIt-pIan.
hIng Campaign Against "ihc Iinurbon
GibraItar."
editorial of the Boston Journal)

Iherc IS au evident disposition IN tho
North to look on South Carolina as thc
! miG1tl"st stronghold Of Bourbonism in
/ ne entire country, and tho fact tlnt
'htto is strong and growing 1ndepend-
cnt party III that State, which, sooner ar
aCnr, Is destined to hold The reius OF
! power, will not lie accepted in this region
wlthOut some cOgcnt proof Such proof
hon. J. HcndIix McLane, the Indcpend-
eht canaidatc FOR Governor in 1882. and
! perhaps the most conspicuous leader of
thc how departure, submits in another
column, to the journal readers. The
one thlng which the South Caroline In.
dependents most kccnly feel the need OF
Is tue generous and active sympathy Of
thc kcpnblcaus Of the North, and in re
turn Tor this they are willing t. do all
ttbcy can toward the election of a Rcpub
iican President III 1883.
Mf' McLGno maintains, and gives the
llilBures on which his belief is based. that
! Houth Carolina on n free ballot aud fair
count will reject the Bonrbons by an
overwhelming vote Without Northern
hcoupIlc@n assistance an honest election
Is regarded as sheer impossihility, so
strongly are the Buurbons cutrcnched
IN power, put their very audacity is has
tenlnT Their overthrow by alternating The
ne8, clements Of the Democratic party in
tne State. Il Is the widespread and
shame less corruption OF Bourbon rule in
oouth Carolina which has made It's de
tGat actually easier TO accomplish there
tn'n in nclghborin8 Statcg, Tennessee,
Georgia aud North Carolina for in
stance, whose Democratic nimimstro-
tious arc fur less objectionable.
If tlt Rn,N,l ,iinn.,
effort to break tho Solid South next
year the State OF South Carolina. in thn
light of Mr.. McLanc's experiences. would
surely seem to offer the greatest chances
ior success. One thing is welt worth
noting, and that is that the indepeul,ut
movement, which Mr. McLunc rcprc.
scnts, springs from the soil of South
Carolina, and has lis strength among the
best classes Of the State II is no III
version OF NOIthom adgcutlrcrs anxious
TO be carried into oilicc by the negro
vote. Mr.. AlcLanc in "A few weeks re-
llirns to his home after short stay in
New England Lie has succeeded in in.
ttieaSlnG IN MS cause several of the fore
most Republicans OF this section, and is
prepANnS 20 begin ut an carly date IA
vigorous campaign. it is more than
possible that the Bourbon Gibraltar NAV
be the first point in the Solid South TO
yield.
some Specimen stories.
u. Hendrix McIunc in the Boston JoulmaI)
Mr.. McLane was asked, "What excuse
do the Democrats offer for this wholesale
fraud?" He replied
None ut all, except that their party
claims that they must and will hold
power III spite Of law or right. The
Bourbon used to claim that wealth and
Intelligence should govern the State
that ignorant negroes should not hold
ollice nor rule iii public affairs. The
Northern people seemed satisfied with
thls excuse, and were willing to accept
tins Bourbon plea rs somewhat of an
cXoncratlOn for fraud III elections. But
TINS was n false promise IL lie to begin
with, bourbon device to deceive. The
colorcd people never did clnmor for
oillcc, nnd us race are now and always
nave been In favor of good and comrC-
tent men iillm8 the Offices. There was
never d time since they have been voters
bur wien the best white men in the State
could not have been elected to Office by
the hClp OF colOred votcrs if tho whites
hHI been wise and fair. In 1882, when
the greatest frauds that ever had been
known were committed, they were not
committed against ignorant negroes, but
more especially against native whito men.
In respect to the intellectual ability, So
cial standing and financial worth, the In
dependent nominees would not suffer by
comparison with the Democratic ticket.
Had it been left to the educational
qualification of the voters the number of
votes for the Independent ticket would
have FAR surpassed tho number of votes
for the Democratic ticket The vote OF
the most intelligent and wealthy man in
the State ls not any more secure under
Bourbon management than is the vote
OF the most ignorant and penniless
negro"
"Do you think the Republicans could
carry the State in 1872"
''Ihcy can, and ] speak advisedly
when l say that the independents
throughout the State think the same.
south Carolina can be carried for the
National Republican ticket next wear
easier than any other State in tho coun-
try. In voting for congressman and
Presidential electors We can provide
against the whole frauds described in tho
! Bourbon methods of carrying State and
county elections. The United States
statutes provide for the appointment of
| supervisors from each party in Congress.
sional elections. Thus the Independents
would have supervisors to look after
their interests at tho polls and assure an
| honest vote. The Bourbons, knowing
this, have separated the State from the
| Federal election, and have thus shown
that they know they cannot hold the
State i'll n national contest if the Repub-
licans Of the North encourage the lnde-
! pcndents to make campaign. To got
down to figures, | know that in that case
the vote would stand about as follows;
The whole strength of the Bourbons
docs not exceed $4,000 of the 1000
white voters, aud this is less than one
fourth of the voting population. There
are about 10, 900 colored voters, at least
100, 900 of whom can safely be counted
on to go with the white Independents.
Allowing that 90, 600 negroes and 10, ,OOC
whites do not vote, from various causes,
you see there would be an opposing vote
of 100, 900 negroes and $1,000 Indepcnd
ents as against $4,000 Bourbon votes,